Vivienne hurried over and tugged at his arm.
"That's enough, Jasper. It was partly my fault. Don't make a fuss over her, please?"
She looked down at Hilda's shaking body, and a wave of satisfaction surged through her.
"I just thought the necklace on this young lady's neck was pretty and leaned in for a closer look. I must have startled her, and we bumped into each other. I'm so sorry."
"Jasper, let's just pay her for the necklace."
The shattered chain lay on the floor not far from their feet.
Jasper glanced at it and frowned. Something about it looked familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"It's worthless junk. She got in your way—she's the one who owes you an apology. The gala's wrapping up. Let's go."
Vivienne nodded with a demure little smile, and the two of them walked off together, chatting and laughing as they went.
Hilda lay on the cold floor, eyes hollow, still as a corpse.
It took her a long time to come back to herself. Slowly, she crawled forward and closed her fingers around the necklace.
The broken shards bit into her palm, blood welling between her fingers, but she didn't seem to feel it. She only squeezed tighter.
Hilda's mind had never been so clear.